Fluorescent tube socket



Sept. 26, 1967 H. J. DELL FLUORESCENT TUBE SOCKET Filed March 5, 1965' INVENTOR, ll HARRY JOHN-DELL BY cm, W 1 A I" 2:

United States Patent 3,344,390 FLUORESCENT TUBE SOCKET Harry John Dell, Camp Hill, Pa., assignor to AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa. Filed Mar. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 437,360 3 Claims. (Cl. 33952) This invention relates to light sockets, and more particularly to fluorescent light sockets.

Known socket members are provided with a section to receive and support the ends of a fluorescent light member, contact members for electrically engaging the contact ends of fluorescent tube and separate means to mount the socket members with the fluorescent tube in place therein onto a reflector plate or other similar mounting member. The known socket members are provided with no integral mounting means so that the socket members can be readily mounted on a reflector plate or suitable mounting member, except with the use of separate means or tools.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a one-piece socket member having integral mounting means thereon.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of the socket member having contact members which are readily placed in position therein, as well as removable therefrom.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a socket member which is durable and strong, which cannot be easily broken, and provides a stable mounting for fluorescent tubes mounted therein to protect same from vibration or mechanical shocks.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the inven tion; it is to tbe understood, however, that this embodiment is not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but' is given for purposes of'illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the condition of a particular use.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of socket members and a contact member for insertion therein;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of a socket member with contact members exploded therefrom;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of a socket member mounted on a mounting member and with a contact member and fluorescent tube exploded therefrom; and

FIGURE 4 is a rear elevational view, partially in section, of a socket member showing the contact member in place therein.

Turning now to the drawings, socket member 1 is molded from a suitable plastic material having stiff but flexible characteristics such as, for example, nylon, phenolic or the like, and comprises a tube or lightsupporting section 2, contact-supporting section 3 and mounting arms 4. Tube-supporting section 2 is a tubular member having a configuration conforming to that of the end of a fluorescent tube 5 for receiving the end of the fluorescent tube thereinto. Wall 6 separates tube-supporting section 2 from contact-supporting section 3, and holes 7 extend through Wall 6 for receiving contact pins 8' (only one being shown in FIGURE 3) of fluorescent tube 5.

Contact-supporting section 3 comprises cavities 9 which are disposed substantially normal to section 2, and each cavity is in communication with the interior of tubesupporting section 2 via respective holes 7. Projections 10 are located in each cavity at the juncture of each sidewall and the rear wall thereof. An opening 11 is located in the bottom of each cavity in alignment with projections 10. An arcuate-shaped extension 12 extends outwardly from the rear wall of contact-supporting section 3 and has a hole 13 extending therethrough.

Mounting arms 4 extend outwardly from sections 2 and 3 at a slight angle from section 3 and in alignment with section 3. Each arm has a transverse slot 14 proximate its outer free end, and the free end includes a beveled surface 15. Arms 4 have stiflly-flexible characteristics and resist being pushed toward contact-supporting section 3 so that they retain their normal angular disposition. The upper surface of slot 14 adjacent beveled surface 15 extends outwardly further than the bottom surface in order to provide additional holding area.

Contact members 16 are the preferable type to be inserted into respective cavities 9 and each contact member includes a ferrule portion 17 and a contact portion 18. Ferrule portion 17 has a section crimped onto the conductive portion of insulated lead 19 and another portion crimped onto the insulation thereof. Of course, insulated lead 19 may be connected to contact member 16 in any desirable manner other than crimping, but the crimping method is the preferred method. Contact portion 18 extends outwardly from ferrule portion 17 and has a U-shaped configuration with the legs inclined slightly toward each other. The base portion of the contact portion is substantially flat and has a hole 20 extending therethrough. Each leg of U-shaped contact portion 18 has a section sheared therefrom in an outward direction, which is defined as a lance member 21.

In assembly, contact members 16 are inserted in respective cavities 9, and each contact member is pushed into its cavity until lance members 21 snap into position behind projections 10, at which point hole 20 in the contact member is in alignment with a respective hole 7 in wall 6. With lance members 21 resiliently seated against projections 10, the contact member is locked in position in its cavity since lance members 21 in engagement with projections 10 prevent the contact member from being withdrawn from the cavity, and the leading end of the contact member leading directly toward the bottom of the cavity opposite opening 11 limits the inner movement of the contact member within the cavity. The

edges of projections 10, which are directed toward the open end of cavity 9, are preferably beveled so as to facilitate the movement of lance members 21 thereby until they reach their locked position on the other sides of the projections. The spring characteristics of the legs of contact portion 18 maintain lance members 21 in locking alignment with projections 10.

In order to remove a contact member from its cavity, a suitable bifurcated tool (not shown) is inserted within the respective opening 11 and in engagement with the lance members. Upon movement of the tool against projections 10, the lance members are moved free of projections 10; and, upon force being applied to the lead, the contact member is removed from the cavity.

After both contact members have been disposed in their respective cavities, the socket members are disposed on the ends of fluorescent tube 5 with tube-supporting sections 2 surrounding the ends thereof and contact pins 8 extending through holes 7 in engagement with respective contact members 16. Mounting arms 4 on each socket member are pushed toward the contact-supporting sections, and the free ends of these mounting arms are inserted within openings 22 and in mounting member 23 with beveled surfaces 15 facilitating the insertion of arms 4 within openings 22. The mounting arms are released to spring back toward their normal position, and slots 14 engage the edges of openings 22 to lock the socket members in position on the mounting member. If desired, a hole can be disposed in mounting member 23 adjacent openings 22 and in alignment with holes 13 so that a screw or similar securing means can be placed in holes 13 and their aligned holes in mounting member 23 to provide additional securing means for the socket members, although mountingarms 4 will provide the necessary lockin g pressure to maintain the socket members in position on the mounting member.

These socket members provide a stable mounting for fluorescent tubes and the like, and they are not subject to normal or above-normal vibration or mechanical shock. The contact pins in engaging the legs of the contact members provide a wiping action therebetween, thereby breaking down the oxides therebetween to provide an excellent mechanical and electrical connection.

As can be discerned, there has been disclosed a onepiece socket member having a tube-supporting section, contact supporting section, and stifily-flexible mounting arms for mounting a fluorescent tube onto a suitable mounting member and wherein contact members are readily placed in and removed from the contact-supporting section.

It will, therefore, be appreciated that the aforementioned and other desirable objects have been achieved; however, it should be emphasized that the particular embodiment of the invention, which is shown and described herein, is intended as merely illustrative and not as restrictive of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Socket means for supporting ends of a fluorescent tube and for mounting in openings of a mounting member, said socket means comprising tube-supporting sections for receiving the ends of the fluorescent tube therein, contact-carrying sections located at the inner ends of said tube-supporting sections and extending substantially normal thereto, said contact-carrying sections defining a Wall at the juncture between said sections and holes in communication with said sections, contact members removably mounted in said contact-carrying sections and having openings in communication with said holes so that contact pins of said fluorescent tube pass through said holes and openings for engagement with said contact members, stiflly-flexible mounting arms extending laterally from said sections and for disposition in said opening and means on said mounting arms for engaging said mounting member with said stifily-flexible mounting arms resiliently maintaining said means in engagement with said mounting member.

2. Socket means for mounting in an opening of a mounting member for supporting one end of a tubular ligth member and for providing electrical contact with contact members thereof, said socket means being a onepiece socket member of dielectric material and comprising a tube-supporting section for receiving the one end of said tubular light member therein and for supporting this one end, a contact-carrying section located at an end of said tube-supporting section and in communication with said tube-supporting section, contact means in said contactcarrying sect-ion for electrical engagement with the contact members of said tubular light member, means on said contact means and in said contact-carrying section to maintain said contact means in position in said contactcarrying section and to permit removal of said contact means from said contact-carrying section, stitHy-flexible mounting arm means extending laterally from said sections and for disposition in said opening, and means on said mounting arm means for engaging said mounting member with said stifily-flexible mounting arm means resiliently maintaining these means in engagement with said mounting member.

3. Socket means according to claim 2 wherein said contact-carrying section is disposed substantially at right angles with respect to said tube-supporting section and said mounting arm means extend outwardly from respective opposite sides of said contact-carrying section.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,709,792 5/1955 Peters 339 2,728,060 12/1955 Doeg 339192 2,802,958 8/1957 Curley 3-39126 X 2,834,951 5/1958 Aquillon et al. 339-217 2,980,880 4/1961 Winkler et a1. 339-128 X 3,097,906 7/ 1963 Shannon 3-39-25 6 X 3,116,308 12/1963 Stark 339126- X 3,217,319 1 1/1965 Rueger 339-426 X MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

ALFRED S. TRASK, Examiner.

J. H. MCG-LYNN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. SOCKET MEANS FOR SUPPORTING ENDS OF A FLUORESCENT TUBE AND FOR MOUNTING IN OPENINGS OF A MOUNTING MEMBER, SAID SOCKET MEANS COMPRISING TUBE-SUPPORTING SECTIONS FOR RECEIVING THE ENDS OF THE FLUORESCENT TUBE THEREIN, CONTACT-CARRYING SECTIONS LOCATED AT THE INNER ENDS OF SAID TUBE-SUPPORTING SECTIONS AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL THERETO, SAID CONTACT-CARRYING SECTIONS DEFINING A WALL AT THE JUNCTURE BETWEEN SAID SECTIONS AND HOLES IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID SECTIONS, CONTACT MEMBERS REMOVABLY MOUNTED IN SAID CONTACT-CARRYING SECTIONS AND HAVING OPENINGS IN COMMUNICATIONS WITH SAID HOLES SO THAT CONTACT PINS OF SAID FLUORESCENT TUBE PASS THROUGH SAID HOLES AND OPENINGS FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CONTACT MEMBERS, STIFFY-FLEXIBLE MOUNTING ARMS EXTENDING LATERALLY FROM SAID SECTIONS AND FOR DISPOSITION IN SAID OPENING AND MEANS ON SAID MOUNTING ARMS FOR ENGAGING SAID MOUNTING MEMBER WITH SAID STIFFLY-FLEXIBLE MOUNTING ARMS RESILIENTLY MAINTAINING SAID MEANS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID MOUNTING MEMBER. 